Ball Beverage Packaging and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) have joined hands to trial the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) part-fueled vehicles in the UK. This trial will run for a period of twelve months, starting from October, and is expected to reduce supply chain CO2 emissions by approximately 300 tonnes per year.

The trial will involve the use of a blend of HVO and diesel fuel to power around 5,000 deliveries to the CCEP site located in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK. The partnership has received support from Menzies Distribution, one of Ball's UK logistics partners.

HVO is a green alternative energy source that has the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of supply chain transportation. The use of HVO can save up to approximately 90% of the carbon footprint related to supply chain transportation, from the production of the can to the final delivery stage to the customer. It can be used as the primary fuel source for vehicles or used in conjunction with diesel to improve CO2e emissions without requiring any change to the existing engine or additional maintenance of the vehicles.

HVO can be easily stored alongside diesel in local tanks, and the fuel types can be mixed throughout the fleet. This would provide HVO on an equivalence basis and could provide a CO2e reduction through a blend of HVO and diesel.

The Vice President of Integrated Business Planning at Ball Beverage Packaging EMEA, Tom McCarthy, exemplified: "We are delighted to work with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners on such an important project. Tackling emissions from transport is extremely important to us – from the production of the can to the final delivery stage. Through strong collaboration with our customers and suppliers across the value chain, we are driving towards our sustainability goals."

In March 2023, Ball announced its new Climate Transition Plan, which outlines the company's pathway and evolution into a fully circular and decarbonised business. The introduction of HVO is one of the steps on the road to achieving Ball's decarbonisation goals, allowing it to better serve its stakeholders and deliver solutions that benefit the planet.

The Vice President of Customer Service and Supply Chain at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Great Britain, Francisco Javier Sanchez Gandarias, asserted: "We see it as our responsibility as a leading manufacturer in GB to support collaboration along the supply chain. We're aligned with Ball Beverage Packaging's goals when it comes to reducing emissions from transport so that, together, we can make a bigger impact when it comes to tackling the climate challenge. We are continuing to encourage all of our third-party partners to transition to lower carbon solutions so we can produce and deliver the drinks people love more sustainably."

HVO vehicles are increasingly becoming an important part of the beverage industry across Europe. They are already being used at other Ball locations in France and Sweden, and Ball is developing future HVO projects across Spain, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland. Recently, we also saw Capral transforming its logistical services to create a green map for its products.

CCEP has been seeking ways to reduce its carbon footprint, and in 2022, it used alternative fuels in approximately 8% of the total kilometres driven by its hauliers in Europe. It currently uses hydrotreated vegetable oil in Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden.

The aluminium industry is highly energy-intensive, therefore avenues to negate carbon emissions from the entire value chain must be analysed in every aspect. To give a detailed purview of the entire sustainability quotient of the global aluminium business, AL Circle has specially created the report, Sustainability in the Global Aluminium Industry. Please have a look at it.